Nasal dimensions in normal subjects: Conventional anthropometry versus computerized anthropometry

Abstract

The aim of the current investigation was to compare computerized measurements of nasal linear distances (nasal tip protrusion, height of the cutaneous upper lip, length of the nasal bridge) collected from 705 healthy individuals from Northern Italy (age range 6-60 years) using an electromagnetic digitizer with conventional anthropometric measurements: one set obtained on individuals of central European origin (Zankl et al.), and one set collected from North American Caucasians (Farkas et al.). On average, the present lengths of the nasal bridge were always significantly smaller than the European data (P < 0.01, Student's t for independent samples). Nevertheless, only in one sex and age group of 18 the discrepancy between the two mean values was larger than 10 mm. In other 10 groups, the mean values differed less than 5 mm. More limited differences (up to 6.5 mm) were found in comparison to the American data. For nasal tip protrusion, digital and conventional data were significantly different (up to 4 mm) in 18 instances of 30. On average, the present heights of the cutaneous upper lip were always smaller than the European data (up to 2.9 mm). The differences were statistically significant in 14 groups of 18. Minor discrepancies (less than 1 mm in nine groups of 12) were found in comparison to the American data. Statistical significance was reached only in seven comparisons. In conclusion, the conventional anthropometric and the digital data compared in the current study, though not superimposable, seemed sufficiently interchangeable, at least from a clinical point of view.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction: Relationship Between the Alar Cartilage and Piriform Aperture

“…During adulthood, gradual craniofacial changes may occur in the nose (9)(10)(11)(12)(35)(36)(37). Sforza et al (11) noted that not only nasal width but also distance between the alar insertion points increased over the years.…”

Orbital aperture morphometry in Brazilian population by postero-anterior Caldwell radiographs

“…3 This morphological variability is necessary to understand the ethnic differences and may be used and analysed by radiography in the forensic context. 4,5 Human identification based on morphological variations of isolated bones or complete skeleton is a complex process. 6 These variations of orbital aperture and orbital bone may be used in forensic medicine as a parameter for sexual and ethnic determination.…”

Metric and morphological assessment of facial features: A study on three European populations

“…ancestry, sex, age), though its role in personal identification has been severely questioned [11]. In the last two decades, metric characteristics of human faces have been investigated using different technologies [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], and the fields of application of population anthropometry vary from plastic (both cosmetic and reconstructive) and orthodontic surgery with the need for an ethnic-specific facial model [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33], to research on attractiveness and the concept of beauty [34][35][36][37] associated with facial symmetry [38][39][40][41], to the assessment of variations induced by congenital and acquired pathologies [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. However, relatively few studies have considered facial assessment for forensic purposes, although a certain potential has been suggested particularly in the field of age estimation of the living [50][51][52][53]…”